With the holiday season fast approaching, families everywhere are preparing for their annual traditions, and for many, this includes revisiting the timeless Christmas comedy Home Alone.
The 1990 classic, starring Macaulay Culkin as the mischievous Kevin McCallister, has become a festive staple, evoking laughter and nostalgia for over three decades.
As viewers relive the chaos of Kevin’s clever battle against the Wet Bandits, many cherish the quirky cast of characters that make the McCallister household so memorable.
From overbearing parents to mischief-making siblings and cousins, every member of the family adds to the film’s charm and humor.
But there’s one character whose significance often goes unnoticed, despite playing a surprisingly pivotal role in the story.
During the chaotic dinner scene, a small boy with oversized glasses and a penchant for guzzling Pepsi steals the moment.
This character, known for his mischievous grin and infamous bed-wetting habit, sets the stage for one of the film’s most critical decisions.
Kevin’s dread of sharing a bed with this cousin sparks a key moment in the McCallister household’s Christmas chaos.
To appease Kevin, his mother relocates the boy to another sleeping arrangement, leaving Kevin to spend the night in the attic alone.
This seemingly minor change ultimately leads to Kevin being left behind when the family rushes to the airport, setting the entire movie’s plot into motion.
Yet, this crucial character’s identity has remained a mystery to many fans for years.
Interestingly, the actor who played the bedwetting cousin had little idea of the movie’s significance at the time.
At just seven years old, the young performer later admitted that he misunderstood the plot entirely. During a 2020 interview with James Corden, he shared, “There’s a part in the movie where there’s a kid who gets his head counted incorrectly and he goes, ‘Bye, bring me back something French!’ I thought the movie was about that kid.”
The actor didn’t realize the movie was about his older brother, who played the lead, until he saw it at its premiere.
Reflecting on the experience, he laughed, saying, “Oh, that makes sense ’cause Mac was on set all the time.” Fans might be surprised to learn that this performer’s connection to the film goes far deeper than his quirky character.
The actor returned in the sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, this time swapping his signature Pepsi for Coca-Cola.
In the second film, his character assumes a more active role, famously being the one to raise the alarm when the family realizes Kevin has gone missing yet again.
Despite these memorable appearances, he remained in the shadow of his sibling, who became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable child stars.
The elder brother’s meteoric rise to fame brought enormous attention and pressure, leading to a fast-paced and overwhelming childhood in the spotlight.
Meanwhile, the younger sibling chose a quieter path, opting to avoid fame and focus on smaller roles to develop his craft.
Decades later, the younger sibling has achieved immense acclaim in his own right, thanks to standout performances in projects like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and HBO’s hit series Succession. Y
Yet, the connection between these two brothers in one of the most iconic Christmas movies of all time has remained surprisingly overlooked.
After all these years, fans might be shocked to learn that Kieran Culkin, the younger brother of Macaulay Culkin, is the bedwetting cousin in Home Alone.
Kieran’s small but impactful role as Fuller McCallister adds an extra layer of charm to the holiday classic.
So this Christmas, as you watch Home Alone for the hundredth time, remember that the cheeky grin behind Fuller belongs to a rising star who has made his own mark on Hollywood.
Featured Image Credit: (20th Century Fox) (YouTube/VJ4rawr2)
